Art of waterproofing building cellar foundation walls



Aug. 11, 1936. F. KOTHE 2,050,798

ART OF WATERPROOFING BUILDING CELLAR FOUNDATION WALLS Filed Jan. 12,1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. A1, 1936. KQ 2,056,798

ART OF WATERPROOFING BUILDING CELLAR FOUNDATION WALLS Filed Jan. 12,1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented Aug. 11,1936

UNETED STATES FATE.

ART OF WATERPROOFING BUILDING CELLAR FOUNDATION WALLS composed of leadsheeting or asphalt impregnated and covered felt, paper, cloth, or anyother substance that will successfully withstand the deteriorating andcorroding effects of the soil surrounding a dwelling.

It is to be understood that the herein described and claimed method andmeans mayalso be applicable to factories, storage cellars, churches, orto any building over an excavated cellar.

Heretofore the waterproofing of cellar foundations has consisted chieflyin a parging of cement, asphalt, tar, or the like directly to the inneror outer walls, or in some form'of membranous interlocking of the jointsbetween the floor and walls 30 and between the other joints or spaces inthe masonry foundation.

The present invention aims at keeping the drainage water away from thefoundation walls rather than attempting to make the walls theme 35selves completely impervious to the effects of moisture.

Examples of the present invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which, for illustration, severalobvious variations are alsoshown.

Fig. 1 shows a preferred form of the invention, wherein the depth of mywaterproofing membrane is such as to preclude interference withsurrounding shrubbery growing around the foundation walls.

Fig. 2 shows a variation, which is cheaper to install since depth at thefoundation wall is reduced.

Fig. 3 shows a modification, wherein a narrow strip of membranousmaterial overlaps the upper 50 edge of the main waterproofing membrane.

Fig. 4 shows the application of my waterproofing method to a logfoundation.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 3, except that the upper part of the mainmembrane itself serves the purpose of the extra protecting strip.

For this purpose the protecting layer may be Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 showvariations of means of attached the waterproofing membrane to theexterior foundation wall. I

Fig. 8 is a semi-transparent View in perspective, showing thearrangement of the waterproof- 5 ing membrane around a building.

Fig. 9 shows a lengthwise view of the underground membrane, being across-section approximately at right angles to a cross-section such asis shown in Figs. 1 to '7.

Fig. 10 shows a variation of the structure of the membrane.

Fig. 11 shows a method of rolling membranous material.

Fig. 12 shows a suggested method of sealing the 15 membrane joints atthe corners of the foundation.

Before entering into amore detailed description of the drawings figures,a brief explanation is deemed desirable.

Some soils, specially around parts of Atlantic City, N. J., are sandyand constantly permeated with Water to a short distance below thesurface. Such a condition is not strictly within the purview of thepresent invention, since moisture is constantly adjacent the foundationwalls, during dry weather as well as during rainy Weather. The usualcondition, however, all over the world, is that the soil has a naturaldownward drainage, and becomes dry further and. further below thesurface, the longer the periods between rains, thus bringing aboutdestruction to vegetable life in case of drought. On this type of soil,the upper surface is apt to be more or less hard during the periodsbetween rains, clue-to sun-baking, thus encouraging the flow of surfacewater down grade during a subsequent rainstorm.

At least two sides of a building, in most cases, are adjacent an upgrade, i. e., a grade leading upward from the wall thereof, and whetherthe foundation wall below grade has been waterproofed or not, on itssurface, it is obvious, in most cases, that rainwater will flow towardsthese walls.

Even if earth be banked around a building, if ,the surrounding land hasa naturally steep grade, the surface rainwater will, if unusual inamount, accumulate and seep through the soil of the earth bank (soilbeing porous), and thusreach the outside surface of the foundation wallwhere it will again accumulate and flow down to the bottom, directlyadjacent the wall.

The foundation wall forming an obstruction, the downfiowing surfacewater will flow towards it and then vertically downwardly along theoutside of the foundation wall, so that in many cases a layer of watercovers the outside of the foundation wall, below grade on at least oneor more sides of a dwelling or other building, during a rain. It is nosurprise therefore that the water penetrates through imperfections inthe foundation wall, due to poor construction, or to cracks due toexpansion and contraction at joints incident to varying hot and coldtemperatures.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to prevent surfacerainwater or any other surface water from ever directly reaching thefoundation wall; to keep the Water from sinking into the earth anyappreciable distance below rade, at any point closer than three to sevenor more feet from the outside of the foundation wall, from which pointthe water can diffuse in all directions, but without permittingaccumulation of solid moisture adjacent the outer part of any outerfoundation wall below grade. 7

A porch built on one side of a building beyond its foundation wall iseffective in eliminating moisture on the inside of the cellar adjacentthat foundation wall. Even after a heavy rain,

investigation will show that below a large area of the central portionof such a porch the soil will be very dry even several feet below grade,providing the porch itself does not leak water.

But obviously a porch or other upper structure surrounding an entirebuilding is undesirable.

The present invention serves just as effectively for keeping therainwater away from the foundation wall below grade, without theaccompanying undesirable features. A pathway or shrubbery around abuilding can exist as well with as without the membranes used in thepresent invention.

In Fig. lris shown the earth 20 graded along line I6 (hereinafter calledthe grade), toward a foundation wall l2. The first step in the presentmethod may consist in digging a trench around the building. The shapeand size of this trench for adequate waterproof protection will dependchiefly on three conditions, namely, the type of soil, the depth of thefoundation below grade, and the provision for shrubbery, if desired. Thetrench should be both deeper and wider for loose sandy soil, as comparedwith heavy clay soil, due to the more rapid and greater sidewisediffusion of water therein. The trench should extend away from theoutside surface l3 of wall I2 adistance about equal to half the depthofsaid wall l2 and from that point downwardly below the grade about thesame distance. If evergreen trees, such as Norway spruce, are to beplanted near the wall,

owing to large roots, the shape of the ditch would differ from that ifroses are to be planted. Shrubbery varies in its moisture, drainage androot ,requirements which should be taken into consideration. If noshrubbery is to be planted, the depth of the trench near the wall neednot be so great, and then the more cheaply dug trench of Figs. 2, 3, 5,6, '7, may be used.

, The membrane I4 is shown laid curved in the ditch. This curve mayapproximate a half parabola, or a quarter of an ellipse incross-section. It is obvious that the membrane may be formed by bendinginto two planes, with a sharp angle between them, but the ,curvedsurface trench is easily made, and obviates any sharp bends in themembrane with its consequent weakening of the membrane material.

After the trench is dug, membrane M will be laid lengthwise therein, asshown, with portion 22I4 against the vertical wall I3, and portion l4l 8extending at an angle outwardly and preferably also downwardlytherefrom. It is preferable that the upper end 22 terminate at least 6inches above grade at wall surface l3, and it is also desirable thatedge Ill be reinforced as shown.

It is also understood that the wall end of the 5 membrane could beginbelow grade, if desired, but since rainwater accumulates at 28, as shownin Figs. 4 and 9, such possible procedure would not prevent probableleakage of water above the point of attachment of the membrane to thewall, though it is not believed that this would do any very appreciabledamage compared with what could leak in without the membrane in place.

' The soil removed from the trench is shown at l 9. After this soil hasbeen removed, it is necessary to smooth out the bottom of the trenchwith a rake or the like, so that membrane M will lay on a solid, fairlysmooth curved surface, to prevent wrinkling and cracking of the materialof membrane M, on removing and replacing the soil 20 l9 again in thetrench, over the membrane, as shownat l9 in Figs. 3, 4, 5. Before thesoil is replaced in the trenches, the corners 29 (see Figs.

8, 12) must be clamped tightly by some suitable clamping means renderingthe corner joints 25 watertight, perhaps with the aid of asphalt or thelike, as in Fig. 12.

There are many materials out of which the membranes l4 and clamps 29 maybe made, and I do not wish to restrict myself to the use of 30 anyparticular material. Various materials that will resist deterioration orcorrosion of the soil are in part as follows: lead, stainless steel,mica, glass, slate,'lava, cement, concrete, asbestos, magnesium, rock,marble, sand, paper, felt, wood, wood-veneer, in compounds, compositionsor mixtures including creosote, bichloride of zinc, tar, asphalt,mineral pitch, wax, paraflin, rosin, or the like. Ordinary compositionfireproof shingles have been dug out of the ground after several yearsshowing no appreciative signs of deterioration, and roofing materialcontaining a good percentage of asphalt may be used for membrane l4,using lead or stainless steel for clamps 29, or for portions exposed tothe air.

Membrane l4 may be in sections, as shown in Fig. 10, overlapping asshown for the grade shown, the joints suitably bonded by some asphalticcompound, if desired, separate sheets 14' being used, with upper andlower edges 22. and I8? respectively, but due to the heaving andbuckling movements of the soil, due especially to the alternate heavingand freezing and thawing of the soil in the winter time, the singleintegral piece construction, with an integral membrane on each side andonly four corner joints is believed almost absolutely essential to agood waterproofing job. 7

The sheath may berolled and shipped in double layer rolls, Mb and Me, assuggested in Fig. 11. 60 Where the surface I3 is wavy, as in concreteblock construction, the crevices between 22 and I3 should be suitablysealed, though this is by no means essential, since the few raindropsthat would enter between l3 and 22 would hardly do 65 much harm,assistance being given in this respect by the usual overhanging roof ofthe building, and the real damage ordinarily being done by anaccumulation of surface water, as shown at 2 8 in Figs. 4 and 9, whichwould ordinarily flow 70 down along surface l3, but which, by thepresent invention, is deflected downwardly and outwards along the top ofthe membrane I4 to its edge l8, where, if proportional dimensions arecorrect, it can do little or no harm. 75

In Fig. 2 we note that the top edge 22 is tapered to a close fit to wallI3, which may be accomplished by means of tar, asphalt, or the like atthe upper edge.

Figs. 3 and 5, 6, '7, are applicable to new construction. In Fig. 3, along narrow strip of lead, or the like, is inserted between a layer ofbrick and bent down over the top edge 22 of membrane M. In Fig. 3 theupper overlapping portion 22 of the membrane should perhaps preferablyextend below grade.

In Fig. 5, the upper part of membrane I4 is bent inwardly at 29, betweenlayers of brick. In Figs. 6, '7, asphalt or the like should fill thespaces between the membrane and wall, at 26, 21, in the recesses in thewall l3, into which the upper edges of the membranes M are inserted.

Fig. 4 shows the invention applied to a. log foundation. It is assumedthat the trees for these logs were felled in the winter, when there wasno sap fiow in the trees, and that the logs are well seasoned andperhaps creosoted. If such wood is kept dry there will be little or nodecay. Cracks between the logs are to be filled by suitable chinking, asis well known, inside and outside, with clay mortar, or the like. Thepresent invention makes such a foundation practicable, though, due tothe deteriorating effects of even a. slight amount of moisture on wood,membrane 14 should extend both deeper and further away from the logsurface [3 than for masonry construction.

If membrane id is to be applied to a building already surrounded withshrubbery, trees, etc., the work should be done in either late fall orearly spring, so the shrubs may be removed and heeled in elsewhere,while in dormant condition, and again replaced after the work is done.

It is understood that membrane l4 may extend at an angle straightoutwardly from the wall, may be corrugated or curved convexly orconcavely or convexo-concavely, or vice-versa, from the Wall; also, thatit may be reinforced at both upper and lower edges for strengthening andprevention of wear due to flow of accumulated rain Water.

Also, the exact order of procedure in applying the herein described andclaimed method is not considered too important. Obviously the membranemay be attached to the wall before the trench is dug, for example, ifdesired, or other obvious or equivalent changes in the order ofprocedure without departure from the inventive concept.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a building cellar foundation wall, of asubterranean integral membrane, of material resistant to deteriorationand corrosion by the soil, and of uniform thickness, extending aroundthe outer portion of the cellar wall, on each side thereof, from a pointa few measurement units above the grade line adjacent each side wall,vertically downwardly and. then at an angle outwardly and downwardly,and terminating underground a suitable distance away from each side walland below the adjacent grade surface, for deflecting surface rainwater adistance away from said foundation wall, for preventing access of wateror moisture to any part of said building foundation wall, especiallybelow grade.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the said membrane isof non-uniform thickness.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper edge ofthe membrane is covered by a strip of suitable material, fixed in arecess in the wall, and bent-outwardly and downwardly over the upperedge of the membrane.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper edge ofthe membrane is itself inserted in a recess in the wall or betweenjoints in the masonry or other material thereof, any remaining spaces inthe wall above the membrane being preferably tightly filled withsuitable sealing material, for sealing purposes.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that eachmembrane comprises separate portions, overlapping each other in such away that water cannot flow downwardly by gravity between the joints.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper edges andcorner joints of said membranes are permanently and effectively sealedagainst leaking of water by gravitation between the wall and said uppermembrane edge or at the joints between the membranes.

7. The combination with a building cellar foundation wall of integralmembranes of uniform thickness and of suitable material, extendingaround the outer portion of each side of said wall, from a lineextending the full length of each wall on the wall near the adjacentgrade line, then at an angle outwardly away from said foundation wall,for deflecting surface rainwater a distance away from said foundationwall, for preventing access of water or moisture to any part of saidbuilding cellar foundation wall, especially below grade.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that themembrane is of nonuniform thickness.

9. The combination as set forth in claim '7, characterized in that theupper edge of each of the membranes is covered with a strip of suitablematerial, fixed in a recess or joint in the wall, and bent outwardly anddownwardly over the upper edge of each membrane.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that theupper edge of the membrane is itself inserted in a recess or betweenjoints in the masonry or other material thereof, that part of saidrecess or joint in the wall above said membrane insertion beingpreferably filled with suitable sealing material for sealing purposes.

- 11. The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein each saidmembrane comprises separate portions, overlapping each other, one on topof the other in the direction of ascending grade, so water cannot flowdownwardly by gravity between joints.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that theupper edges and corner joints of said membranes are permanently andeffectively sealed against leakage of water by gravitation between thewall and said upper membrane edge, or at the joints between themembranes.

FRANK KO'I'HE.

